Document Ra26OgLpOza2VgVO1rnd7On9z

July 21, 1958 Mrs. Ann Tourtellot 85 Elbert Street Raasey, New Jersey Dear Mrs. Tourtellot: I return to you, by return mail, the galley proof of the chapter on "Lead Poisoning" of **A Textbook of Medicine. " There are but two defects to which I have called attention on the galley proof, with suggestions for alterations which involve a minimum of difficulty. In the first of these, I may be regarded as a bit quixotic and my suggestion disregarded. If so, I shall not protest or feel ill-used, but only sorry. I have an aversion, however, to the word "evaluated, " for a number of reasons, and I have suggested that it might be replaced by the word "appraised" (of the same number of letters), in column 726, paragraph 6, line 3 from the end. The other is more serious, in that an error in the rearrangement of a sentence, without punctuation to overcome the misleading effect of the bad sequence of clauses, must be dealt with. I have contented myself with the introduction of the necessary punctuation, only. This is indicated in the margin of paragraph 7, line 7 and 3, of the same column, #726. I think I should say for the record, that the changes introduced into my last draft of the article have saved only a little space, at some cost to the worth of the article. Inasmuch as I am fairly familiar with the problems of an editor, I take these alterations in stride, but it is true, nevertheless, that subtle differences in phraseology and in the exclusion or inclusion of clauses that either state additional facts or qualify those stated, can alter the substance, as well as the intent, of one's speech. Since in one or two instances, which are especially noteworthy in the deletions and rephrasing of my discussion in Etiology and Diagnosis, the effect of certain changes has not been s.pparent to the final editor, it is probable that these subtleties would be lost on any reader except the most expert. It is likely* however,' that I shall be criticised by some of my colleagues, particularly for some of the omissions, and I may well have to def end myself in court against what will he, in effect, my own words. As an example of what I mean, the seemingly innocent contraction of my explanation of the means by winch a lead bullet can give rise to absorption of a dangerous amount of lead, brings this statement perilously close to a contradiction of the conclusions of our fairly extensive investigation of this matter in a series of cases. This is KET 0020293 Mrs. Ann Tourtellot - (2} - July 21, 1958 not. In feet, an unimportant matter, nor is the elimination of any reference to the problem of battery boxes a negligible matter, since some considerable effort, by no means altogether successful, has gone into the elimination of this hazard. However, these are not matters of great consequence, and I shall not dwell upon them here or in my own mind. I am much more gratified at having had the opportunity to restate the case, in relation to this disease, in terms which seem to me to be needed, than I am disturbed by these minor details, ri shall appreciate it if you would convey this last sentiment to Drs, Cecil and Loeb. . . .Cordially yours,. 5r;, *' ` ' --r a k ef 't' Enc. Robert A. Xehoe, M.D. c - ;' rf v ."i.i ; - t ?. r HE 0020294 > * -i l \v % i 'i